Race History - 28th Annual Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon, 5K & Fun Run 6/22/08

June 22, 2008, 8:30 AM
Jennings Beach, Fairfield, Connecticut
June, 2008 "Race of the Month" - Runners World Magazine

History
The Fairfield Road Races are a unique community event in Fairfield, Connecticut with a celebrated history of regional participation and broad-based community support. The races have gained national acclaim and a large international following.

Two races - the half marathon (13.1 miles) and the 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) - field over 3,000 runners, including international stars and runners from across the country. Several thousand volunteers and spectators will line the course to support the runners.

On Sunday, June 22, 2008 the Fairfield Half Marathon will stage its twenty-eighth annual race. An event that started with just 200 runners has become one of the premier running events in the United States. Accolades for the race include being two-time host of the U.S. Women's National Half Marathon Championship, three-time host of the National Masters' Half Marathon Championship, and routinely selected as one of the country's top road races by Runner's World magazine.

The 5-kilometer race will be run again for the fourteenth year. Added to the schedule in 1995 to encourage more casual runners to participate in a race, the 5K has now become a popular family event.

The Fairfield Firefighters have hosted the event from the start and have stayed true to the mission of the Fairfield Road Races: to produce a national caliber sporting event and to donate the proceeds to local charities. This event is unique in Fairfield County in terms of its scope and quality; it is highly regarded and has become nationally acclaimed. The Fairfield Road Races receive tremendous positive exposure within the community. The success of the Fairfield Road Races is attributed to the generosity and commitment of all participants - the runners, volunteers, spectators, community and civic organizations - and particularly the financial, media and product sponsors.

Race Highlights

1981 Inaugural Fairfield Half Marathon attracts nearly 200 runners.
1982 Race field tops 500 runners.
1986 Race field surpasses 1000 runners. U.S. Olympian Nancy Ditz competes.
1989 Hosts the U.S. Women's National Half Marathon Championship. Runner's World rates the race among the top races in the country.
1990 Hosts the National Masters' Half Marathon Championship.
1992 Five Olympians compete including U.S. Marathon Team members Steve Spence and Bob Kempainen, making this their last major race prior to the Barcelona Olympics. Spence sets the men's course record.
1993 Hosts the U.S. Women's National Half Marathon Championship and National Masters' Championship. More than 2000 runners compete. Women's course record set by Elaine Van Blunk in 1:12:06.
1994 Runner's World rates the race again as one of the best in the country, and has every year since. Hosts the National Masters' Championship and race field surpasses 2200 runners.
1995 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) race is added to the schedule. Combined race field exceeds 3000. Gilbert Rutto sets the men's half marathon course record.
1996 Seven Olympians training for the Atlanta Games compete. In an exciting finish, Peter Githuka outkicks Richard Nerurkar by just one second. Men's course record is smashed by over a minute at 1:03:00, and the top three men finish within three seconds.
1997 U.S. Olympian Anne Marie Lauck conquers the women's field.
1998 Daniel Kihara passes 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist Douglas Wakihuri in the last half mile of the race to win and to tie the course record.
2000 Avon's Mary-Lynn Currier becomes the first American winner since 1997. Kenyan Ben Kimondiu repeats as champion winning the closest race ever as the top 4 runners finish within 7 seconds.
2001 Tanzania's John Yuda smashes course record by winning in 62:39.
2005 Russian Firaya Sultanova-Zhban (age 44) repeats to take the women's ½ marathon title.
2006 Retired Fairfield Fire Captain Steve Lobdell returns as Race Director. Due to construction and with runner safety in mind, both the half marathon and 5K courses were re-worked. Nathan Kosgei and Naomi Wangui, of Kenya finished 1st in the half marathon. Adam Mulia of Brooklyn, NY and Amy Fredericks from Stamford, CT topped the 5K field. Nearly $100,000 given to numerous charities.
2007 Stratton Faxon became the title sponsor for Fairfield Road Races and a Kid's 1K Fun Run was added to the race events. A near record 2885 runners ran the three races on a spectacular summer day at the beach. With humidity below 50%, an onshore breeze, and temperatures in the low 60s at race start, it was nearly perfect weather.

Organization

Event Leadership
The Fairfield Road Races are a volunteer-driven, community event lead by Retired Fire Department Captain Steve Lobdell. John Bysiewicz is the Event Coordinator. The Fairfield Firefighters have been the dedicated hosts since the inception. The operating entity for the Fairfield Road Races is The Fairfield Half Marathon, Inc., a federal not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, ID #06-1226507.

Supporting Organizations
The Fairfield Road Races succeed because of the volunteer and staff support of the organizations mentioned below. The commitment and dedication throughout the year and on race day make this the world-class event that it is.

American Medical Response	Fairfield Prep Cross Country Team
Big Little Sanitation	Fairfield Police Department
Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters	Fairfield Public Works Department
Connecticut Burns Care Foundation	Fairfield Recreation Department
Einstein Brothers Bagels	Laidlaw Transit
Fairfield Boy Scouts	RNUNES Soccer Academy
Fairfield Fire Department	Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department
Fairfield Fire Fighters Association–Local 1426	Tee's Plus
Fairfield Girl Scouts	Town of Fairfield

Charities
Everyone who runs, volunteers, supports, or sponsors the Fairfield Road Races shares in the victory. Last year race participants and sponsors helped give nearly $100,000 to charity. In recent years, the race has donated to these charities:


Connecticut Burns Care Foundation and their Camp for Severely Burned Children
Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit	Fairfield Prep High School Athletics
Bridgeport Hospital Foundation	Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport, CT	Merton House, Bridgeport, CT
Evergreen Network, Bridgeport, CT	Newspapers in Education
Fairfield Girl Scouts